less than enormous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than enormous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not very large or significant, often in a humorous or understated way. Example: "The turnout for the event was less than enormous, with only a handful of attendees showing up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He had to stretch his less than enormous book advance and convince his wife that his absence from her and his two young children would all be worth it...someday...someday

Huffington Post

We also made a rough estimation of the underreporting of cases with notifiable symptoms to the IDSP, which is nothing less than enormous.

Global Health Action

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Regardless of income, my line on this is that if you spend money on a gym membership which some people of less than-enormous income obviously do you're making a silly mistake.

Vice

Less Than Jake.

WikiHow

If you have never worked on Wall Street, it is hard to grasp how 11 figures could be anything less than an enormous payday.

The New York Times

Here in the United States, with plentiful supply and an unencumbered marketplace the price is less than $2.50 mmbtu -- an enormous difference!

Huffington Post

But enormous traffic jams in China's largest cities can make driving a less-than-romantic experience.

The New York Times - Tech

By contrast, analogies in mathematics typically involve domains with an enormous number of objects (like the real numbers), but relatively few relations (addition, multiplication, less-than).

SEP

He has cast no less than Tilda Swinton, outfitted with enormous protruding teeth, as Mason, Wilford's chief ideologue.

The New Yorker

In any case, says Parry Young of Standard & Poor's, a rating agency, Illinois's pension scheme is still less than 60% funded, despite its enormous bond issue.

The Economist

Despite effective monitoring and treatment options, diabetes remains the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure and amputation in the U.S. Similarly, while detection and treatment of high cholesterol has been clearly demonstrated to be of enormous benefit, less than half of patients who start on a statin even refill their prescription.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less than enormous" to add a touch of understatement or humor when describing something that isn't particularly large or significant. It's especially effective when you want to avoid a direct negative statement.

Common error

Avoid using "less than enormous" too frequently, as it can become repetitive and lose its impact. Vary your language with more direct descriptions of size or significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than enormous" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that its size or magnitude is smaller than what might be considered 'enormous.' Ludwig shows this through examples where it qualifies nouns like 'book advance' or describes abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less than enormous" serves as a nuanced way to describe something that isn't particularly large or significant. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and can add a touch of understatement to your writing. While not a very common expression, it effectively communicates a comparative lack of size and frequently appears in news and media contexts. Consider using alternatives like "not particularly large" or "somewhat small" for simpler, more direct descriptions. Avoid overusing it to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not particularly large

Replaces "enormous" with a more neutral term for size, softening the impact.

not overly large

Similar to 'not particularly large', uses 'overly' to express the size is not excessive

smaller than huge

Uses a direct comparison, substituting "enormous" with "huge" for a slightly different nuance.

not particularly sizable

Similar in meaning, replacing "large" with "sizable" for a slightly different tone.

somewhat small

Offers a simpler, more straightforward way to indicate reduced size.

not especially big

Employs a common adjective to express a lack of significant size.

modestly sized

Uses a more refined adjective to suggest a smaller, but not insignificant, size.

of limited magnitude

Employs more formal language to describe something not very large in scope or impact.

relatively petite

Uses "petite" to suggest a dainty or delicate smallness, often implying elegance or charm.

not of great extent

Focuses on the physical dimensions or scope of something.

FAQs

How can I use "less than enormous" in a sentence?

You can use "less than enormous" to describe something that is smaller or less significant than expected. For example: "The crowd at the event was "less than enormous", but the enthusiasm was high."

What are some alternatives to "less than enormous"?

Alternatives include "not particularly large", "somewhat small", or "not especially big" depending on the desired level of formality and nuance.

Is "less than enormous" a common expression?

"Less than enormous" is not as common as simpler alternatives, but it can be used effectively to add a touch of understatement or humor. Its relative infrequency can make it stand out.

What's the difference between "less than enormous" and "not enormous"?

"Less than enormous" implies a comparison to something that could have been enormous, suggesting a degree of unexpected smallness. "Not enormous" is a more direct and neutral statement of size.